With Emilio Castillo, he co-wrote “Happy ‘Bout That” and “Stranger In My Own House” for Tower of Power’s Oakland Zone (Or Music, 2003), and the bonus track “Nothing Like It” for the European edition. Leo Sacks is a freelance record producer in New York. He has recorded John Clayton’s arrangements with members of the CHJO on CDs with Michael Buble, David Foster, Jamiroquoi, Rene Olstad, Paul Anka, Joss Stone, Charles Aznevour, Gladys Knight and Diana Krall.Īll band member biographies were compiled by Leo Sacks. Downbeat Magazine rated the CHJO as the #1 Big Band in the USA in 2007. He has toured and recorded with the Clayton/ Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and has played with them since 2003. In 2004 through 2006 the California Arts Council sponsored Sal and Melanie’s sextet. In 2001, their CD, “Fly”, was nominated for a Latin Grammy. He performed with his own sextet featuring his wife, Melanie Jackson, on vocals. He has also done worldwide tours with such artists as Tom Jones, Vicki Carr, Brian Setzer, Michael Bolton and Harry Connick Jr. He recorded on Bobby Shew’s, “Salsa Caliente” CD, in 1998. He performed for, and with, these artists at the Monterey, Playboy, Concord, and Nice Jazz Festivals plus many others throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America, Thailand and Japan. With Poncho, he has played and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Chick Corea, Stanley Turentine, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Clare Fischer, Gary Foster, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Harris, Joey DeFrancesco, Dianne Reeves, Justo Almario, Andy Martin and Celia Cruz. Since then, with Poncho and other acts, Sal has traveled to 38 countries globally. N the late-80s, Poncho started traveling internationally. While in this band, Sal played with such jazz greats as Warren Marsh, Lee Konitz, and Peter Erskine. While working with Poncho, in the 1980s, he was a member of the Pasadena City College Big Band under the direction of saxophonist, Gary Foster. In 1977 he started a long musical relationship with Poncho Sanchez, which ultimately let to 18 albums. He started working as a professional musician at 15 in nightclubs with various R&B and Latin bands. By his Junior and Senior year of High School, he was attending Cerritos College playing in their jazz and concert bands. He played in concert, marching and jazz band in high school. His mother, Edith, was his first trumpet teacher and started Sal on trumpet at the age of 12. Founded by Emilio Castillo and originally called the Motowns, Tower of Power reached its period of greatest popularity in the early 1970’s, after earning a contract with San Francisco Records. His father, Sal Cracchiolo I, owned a music studio where he taught piano and played professional accordion. Tower of Power, an R&B band most recognized for its powerful horns, was formed over four decades ago in Oakland, California. In 2006, Steve Finch took over as director of operations for Strokeland Records as Kupka began work on two new releases: Doc Goes Hollywood (a collection of his songs written in the Great American Songbook style) and Bumped Up To First Class (a new collection of Kupka's classic soul songs in the early Tower of Power style).Salvator William Cracchiolo II was born in Long Beach, California as the son of two talented music teachers. Strokeland Records has since grown to include numerous other soul, jazz, and funk artists. In 1998, Kupka founded Strokeland Records along with Andy Ebon, CEO of Soul, as a platform for his own songwriting. Kupka has also recorded with numerous other artists, including The B-52's, Chicago, Dan Fogelberg, Heart, Elton John, Huey Lewis and the News, Little Feat, Elkie Brooks, and Bonnie Raitt. "Doc" plays a Yamaha YBS-62 baritone saxophone, Berg Larsen 130 facing metal mouthpiece, and Rico Plasticover 1.5 strength reeds. Kupka has been with Tower of Power ever since, and is also responsible for co-writing (with Castillo) a majority of the band's songs. Kupka convinced Castillo to start performing original songs, and they changed the band's name to Tower of Power. In 1968, Kupka met Emilio Castillo and joined his soul music cover band, The Motowns, which was based in Oakland, California. "The Funky Doctor") (born 25 March c.1946, in Berkeley, California) is a baritone saxophone player and composer, and is a founding member of the band.
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